Former Edison Fire Chief, H. Ray Vliet, 94, of Edison passed on Monday, March 22, 2021 at home. He was an Edison resident for the past 72 years. An Eagle Scout in his youth, he graduated from Highland Park High School, class of 1945. Joining the US Army, he served as a Sergeant in the Constabulary in Germany. Upon returning home, he attended and graduated Television and Radio Repair School, starting his own successful business in Edison. He joined Raritan Engine Company #1 in the early fifties. In 1957 he was appointed to the Edison Twp. Paid Fire Department. In 1970, he became the first paid Chief of the Department. Ray was very active in his community being a past president and lifetime member of the Edison Chamber of Commerce. Other professional and social organizations he was active in included the NJ Police Training Commission, American Legion Post #435, V.F.W. Post 3117, the Holland American Society of New York, a Master Mason in the Mt. Zion Lodge 135, Director of the NJ State Fire College, Instructor at the FBI Academy, Past President of the International Association of Arson Investigators and guest lecturer at numerous colleges and universities. He was most proud of his family and service to others. Ray was predeceased by his parents, Harold B. and Anna M. Vliet. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Ilse; his daughter, Nancy Lamkie and her husband Albert; his son Harold R. Vliet, Jr. and his wife Donna; his brother, Joseph Richard of Cincinnati Ohio; his grandchildren, Jennifer, Cynthia, Lindsay, Harold, and Mitchell; and his greatgrandchildren, John, Nolan, Emma, Brody, Samantha and Alexandra. Relatives and friends are invited to visit on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Boylan Funeral Home, 10 Wooding Avenue, Edison. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at the Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Metuchen.